Published Paper Details:

The issue of heavy metals in India due to industrial waste sludge stems from the inadequate management of toxic industrial byproducts. Rapid industrialization generates waste containing heavy metals like lead, cadmium, and mercury, which are often improperly disposed of in open dumps or water bodies. This study encompasses the industrial waste sludge collected from common effluent treatment plant at Kurkumbh MIDC in Pune, to examine presence of heavy metals in the sludge sample and further carry out the process of bioleaching. This study aims to assess the efficiency of microorganisms in removing heavy metals through bioleaching. The metals present in the sludge are Zinc, Copper, and Iron. Following the bioleaching process for 14 days, the total extraction percentages of these heavy metals were determined to be 84.33% for Zinc, 71.03% for Copper, and 25.04% for Iron. In conclusion, bioleaching stands as a promising technology for the removal of heavy metals from industrial waste sludge, offering a sustainable and eco-friendly approach to mitigate the detrimental effects of heavy metal contamination on our environment and public health.